Russia fears another attack. Putin introduces mass checks
Mass checks of trucks have begun in Russia after Ukrainian drone attacks on airports in the interior of the country, reports the independent website The Moscow Times. According to NATO data, Ukrainians destroyed between 10 and 13 strategic aircraft last weekend.
Russian security services have stepped up checks on trucks on the roads after Sunday's Ukrainian drone attack on strategic airports in Russia, The Moscow Times reports. Mass inspections of trucks have begun in Siberia and at permanent and mobile road checkpoints, especially those with Chelyabinsk registration plates.
A representative of one of the transport companies informed the portal that officers are opening trucks, even those sealed by customs, which forces the re-preparation of documentation. One of the drivers spent a total of ten hours at three different checkpoints, despite the fact that his vehicle had already been checked earlier.
According to investigators, the Ukrainian drones that attacked military airfields in Russia were stored in a warehouse in Chelyabinsk. They could have arrived there from China via the border with Kazakhstan and then been transported on trucks with Chelyabinsk license plates.
Operation "Spiderweb"
According to The Wall Street Journal and the Financial Times, Operation Spiderweb was prepared for more than a year and a half. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) secretly introduced small drones into Russia. Then wooden containers were delivered, in which the drones were placed. Immediately before the attack, the containers were placed on trucks, which drove up near the airports. Then the covers were opened remotely, and the drones flew out to hit their targets.
As NATO estimates, Russia lost in the attack from 10 to 13 strategic planes, including at least one A-50 radar aircraft worth over USD 300 million.